A ROW has broken out which casts doubts over plans for a long-awaited solution to Witney’s traffic problems.

The leader of Oxfordshire County Council and a Witney landowner have been unable to agree on whether funding does or does not exist for improvements to the Shores Green junction of the A40.

Landowner James Mawle has said there are “significant funds” for the Shores Green project left over from the abandoned Cogges Link Road project.

The Cogges Link Road scheme, which would have cost around £20m, was abandoned in 2012 after it was rejected by the Secretary of State for Transport.

Mr Mawle spoke out after Ian Hudspeth, the leader of the county council, accused him of delaying the Shores Green proposals by not submitting a planning application for homes on his land in east Witney, which could provide funding for the junction from housing developer contributions.

Mr Mawle said: “The county council as local highways authority should be taking the lead on this vital project.”

Mr Hudspeth said there were no funds left over from the Cogges scheme, and added that developer contributions for the new road were paid back because too much time passed without the project starting.